So a lot of you guys have been writing about your friends that you are trying desperately to share the gospel with, and i know how that feels. Although God definitely uses us as tools it is not on us to convert everyone; God can change the hearts of anyone when he decides is appropriate. I was reading in Ephesians and i saw this prayer that Paul prays for the Ephesians. I think it is a prayer that we should all use when we are trying to show someone the love of God. Before anything else we should set good examples for people that don't follow Christ and we should absolutely pray for them. When he says "you" Paul is referring to the Ephesians who he is writing to. So in our case, for our friends. It is important to remember not to get discouraged if we feel we are being ineffective because God works in mysterious ways that we will not always understand. Just keep setting the example and don't stop praying! Never forget how contagious joy can be.
Ephesians 3:16-20
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Thank you so much for sharing this Catherine! I think I always lose sight of the fact that I don't have control over whether or not someone believes in God. Only God can "convert" people and cause a change of heart. It's not our responsibility to change these people because we simply CAN'T change them. We just have to do what you said - pray, set a good example, and be patient for whatever God's will has in store.
ReplyDeleteThanks for those amazing verses too! I love them! :)
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ReplyDeleteSorry, didn't like my last comment...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, love this post! Do you guys know about catalysts? Basically, they help make it easier for bonds to break/form in chemical reactions. That's how we should be. They don't actually break them or form them, they just help. We should help make it easier for these people to break their bonds of sin and form a bond with God, but we can't do it on our own.